Dover-Sherborn Middle School

Curriculum Road Maps

 

Course Title:           Social Studies                                       Grade: 6

 

Unit:                               Rome & Greece (COMBINED STUDIES)                    


Month Presented:    April- June                       Unit Length (in weeks):     10     

 

Connections to Massachusetts State Frameworks:

The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE

7.35 On a historical map, identify ancient Rome and trace the extent of the Roman Empire to 500 AD/CE. (H, G)

 

7.36 Explain how the geographical location of ancient Rome contributed to the shaping of Roman society and the expansion of its political power in the Mediterranean region and beyond.

(H, G, E)

 

7.37 Explain the rise of the Roman Republic and the role of mythical and historical figures in

Roman history. (H)

 

A.  Romulus and Remus

B.  Hannibal and the Carthaginian Wars

C.  Cicero

D.  Julius Caesar and Augustus

E.  Hadrian

 

7.38 Describe the government of the Roman Republic and its contribution to the development of democratic principles, including separation of powers, rule of law, representative government, and the notion of civic duty. (H, C)

 

7.39 Describe the influence of Julius Caesar and Augustus in Rome’s transition from a republic to an empire and explain the reasons for the growth and long life of the Roman Empire. (H, E)

 

A.  Military organization, tactics, and conquests; and decentralized administration

B.  the purpose and functions of taxes

C.  the promotion of economic growth through the use of a standard currency, road construction, and the protection of trade routes

D.  the benefits of a Pax Romana 

 

7.40 Describe the characteristics of slavery under the Romans. (H)

 

7.41 Describe the origins of Christianity and its central features. (H)

 

A.  monotheism

B.  the belief in Jesus as the Messiah and God’s son who redeemed humans from sin

C.  the concept of salvation

D.  belief in the Old and New Testament

E.  the lives and teachings of Jesus and Saint Paul

F.  the relationship of early Christians to officials of the Roman Empire

 

7.42 Explain how inner forces (including the rise of autonomous military powers, political corruption, and economic and political instability) and external forces (shrinking trade, attacks, and invasions) led to the disintegration of the Roman Empire. (H, E)

 

7.43 Describe the contribution of Roman civilization to law, literature, poetry, architecture, engineering, and technology (e.g., roads, bridges, arenas, baths, aqueducts, central heating, plumbing, and sanitation). (H)

 

7.44 Explain the spread and influence of the Roman alphabet and the Latin language, the use of Latin as the language of education for more than 1,000 years, and the role of Latin and Greek in scientific and academic vocabulary. (H)

 

Essential Question (s) Focus:

  • How are we like those who have come before us?

 

Learning Objectives:

Students will learn about the creation myth of Rome

Students will study the geography of Rome

Students will learn about the structure of Roman government, republic and empire.

Students will learn about the daily life of Rome

 

Skills Indicators:

  1. Demonstrate values of respect, responsibility, honesty and effort.
  2. Maintain an organized approach to learning: taking notes, completing homework and classwork, and being prepared.
  3. Identify and utilize a variety of strategies to determine the meaning and usefulness of a source.
  4. Effectively identify and express the important contributions of the societies we study, both verbally and in writing.
  5. Apply facts learned to answer unit questions.
  6. Reflect on learning and community progress..

Skills focus for this unit: ALL

 

Instructional Strategies & Activities:

  • Group/partner cooperation and teamwork activities
  • Roman emperor column creation
  • Postcard of Roman Daily life. 
  • Maps
  • Research and note-taking background information.

 

Materials Utilized:

Ancient Civilizations for Kids VIDEO Series: Greece, Rome, Aegean

Various readings on Greece and Rome

Ancient Civilizations

Videos from United Streaming

 

Assessment Strategies:

Roman Column creation

Sweatnotes

Quizzes and Hot Spots

Reflection journals.